I love the imaginative things that kids think of. Bet that water was really cold. Throwing hard balls, or a Frisbee with my Dad in the summer evenings. Climbing to the top of the backyard cherry tree and singing made up songs or reading a book — and eating cherries off the tree.

Great artwork. I know you are an excellent photographer, but I didn’t realize what an accomplished artist you are!

There’s nothing like summer when you’re a kid, that’s for sure 🙂 And my favorite summer memory is actually a combined memory—all the days we spent at a place called Requa Lake in Spring Valley, N.Y. It was a swim “club,” I guess you called it, with everything from the large lake-like pool, ping pong, a pavillion with a jukebox, tons of picnic tables under trees, baseball fields (well, not well-kept). Just everything for Sundays filled with family fun. It’s no longer there. They leveled it to make a townhouse community.

Coleen – the past several years I’ve enjoyed watching my kids grow up and play at the lake in Michigan, but growing up it was the trip to Saudi Arabia after my parent’s divorce. My brothers and I – three boys separated by 18 months – what was my mom thinking? Summer in Saudi Arabia was so darned hot – the sidewalk fried our bare feet, so we swam in pool for hours and played pool in the community room with a couple of girls who were visiting Saudi Arabia from Los Angeles. I remember going shopping with my step-mother and we needed a driver to take us because women couldn’t drive. Saudi Arabia was a strange place. Summer was exhilarating and exhausting. We’d spend time as a family at the pool in the evenings when my dad came home from work. We slept well at night and dreamed the dreams of summer. Summer goes so quickly, seemingly, it’s gone in an instant. I hope your summer has been amazing. Love reading your posts. Happy Monday, or Happy Tuesday because that’s where I am today – enjoy your week.

And they say necessity is the mother of invention. Check out the cleverness of you two sisters. I am truly impressed. I would never have thought of a Hefty pool. Love, love, love those cards Coleen. You are so talented. And since I’m late, Happy Tuesday/Wednesday to you!! 🙂

That’s a great idea! I can’t believe we never tried that while living in Michigan (but too far away from any lakes). We did try to construct slip and slide type things with garbage bags and a hose and that was fun too. I’ve missed you and your artwork. I hope everything’s going well with you!